‘Punjab flooded but CM touring Tamil Nadu’: Under Oppn fire, Mann says ‘will consider replicating TN’s Breakfast Scheme’

However, Mann came under fire from the Opposition for attending the event in Tamil Nadu and “abandoning his people” when people in Punjab were grappling with heavy floods. From Pathankot to Gurdaspur, Hoshiarpur to Ferozepur, people posted videos of how swelled river waters were entering their villages.

At the Chennai event, Mann said: “I feel elated attending this event today. Under the scheme, children in rural areas of Tamil Nadu have been receiving a fresh breakfast, and now children in urban schools will also benefit from this initiative. I congratulate the Tamil Nadu government for launching such a scheme,” said Mann.

Addressing Stalin from the stage, Mann said, “I promise you sir, I will also consider it in my cabinet to start this scheme in Punjab also.”

Tamil Nadu launched the scheme in 2022 in a bid to reduce malnutrition, improve attendance, and enhance the learning ability of young children. Acknowledging its benefits, Mann said, “A hungry child cannot learn. If a child is hungry, then his or her potential and energy to learn and grasp declines. His or her attention is then only towards eliminating that hunger.”

Mann said while the Centre’s Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman (PM POSHAN) midday meal scheme is good, working women still face the challenging task of waking up early in the morning to prepare breakfast for their children.

“They first prepare food, make the child eat and then send them to school. So, it is a very good initiative by Tamil Nadu to launch such a scheme to provide breakfast to the children in schools,” said Mann.

Over 18 lakh children from upper kindergarten (UKG) to Class 8 are currently served midday meals in schools under the PM-POSHAN scheme in Punjab during lunch break.

Taking to X, Stalin reciprocated Mann’s statement and wrote: “The Chief Minister’s Breakfast Scheme in Tamil Nadu continues to inspire beyond our borders. Honorable Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann honoured us by attending the CM Breakfast Scheme expansion event today, I thank him warmly for his esteemed presence. After witnessing its impact here, he said that he would consider introducing a similar scheme in Punjab and hold discussions on it, and we are grateful for that. His words fill my heart with joy and pride, and I eagerly look forward to the day when it takes shape in Punjab.”

Opposition says Mann abandoned Punjab when people are suffering

Meanwhile, Mann’s attendance at an event in Tamil Nadu while at least ten districts in Punjab are affected by floods sparked strong reactions from political opponents. They accused him of abandoning the state while people are suffering, and in need of urgent relief and rescue measures.

Sarabjeet Singh Jhinjer, national president, Youth Akali Dal (YAD) wrote on X: “When Rome was burning, Nero played the flute! Punjab is reeling under severe floods, with the situation only projected to worsen in the coming days. Farmers are fighting with their own hands to save their crops and homes, yet our CM Bhagwant Mann is busy holidaying with his family in Tamil Nadu. Such spineless and insensitive leadership is pushing Punjab into deeper misery!”

Congress MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira wrote on X, “The quote “Nero played the flute while Rome burnt” aptly fits on @BhagwantMann who’s busy touring Tamil Nadu with family while Punjab is suffering from fury of statewide floods ! We @INCIndia demand immediate flood relief measures including compensation for crop losses, livestock and property damage.”

Leader of opposition and Congress MLA Partap Singh Bajwa wrote on X: “Farmers and poor families across Punjab are crying for help as their homes, fields and livelihoods drown in unprecedented floods. Instead of standing with his people in this hour of distress, CM Bhagwant Mann has flown to Tamil Nadu for yet another PR event. While Punjab suffers, Nero continues his photo-ops elsewhere. This shameless abandonment of Punjab’s flood-hit people is nothing short of betrayal.”

SAD MP and former union minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal said: “It is extremely sad and disappointing that Bhagwant Mann is touring other states leaving Punjab submerged in floods, and the people of Punjab are regretting making him the CM today!”

SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal also hit out at the CM for being out of state when “Punjab is drowning in floods”. He posted on X: “Homes are ruined, crops destroyed, loss of lives and… He is vacationing in Chennai with his family! This is utterly disgusting and shameful. Punjab ruddh reha hai, Mukh Mantri mauja lutt reha hai…”

Ashwani Sharma, the Punjab BJP working president, also lashed out at Mann and said: “With nearly half of Punjab submerged… Stoves have gone cold, food has become scarce — yet Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann chose… breakfast with Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin… Instead of cancelling his programs and rushing to flood-hit villages… Bhagwant Mann abandoned Punjabis in crisis. This exposes his complete lack of empathy or concern.”

The Punjab government however said that it has issued directions to local administration and concerned departments’ officials to maintain round-the-clock presence at the ground level to continue rescue and relief operations on a war footing in flood-affected areas. The statement further said that Punjab water resources minister Barinder Kumar Goyal and food & civil supplies minister Lal Chand Kataruchak visited flood-affected districts Tuesday.